July 04, (THEWILL) – The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), has issued a stern warning to foreign-based athletes planning to skip the national trials in Benin City, Edo State, to have a rethink.
The AFN Secretary General, Rita Mosindi, insisted that any athlete who fails to attend the trials should consider themselves ineligible for the upcoming World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. Mosindi stated that the only exception would be if an athlete could provide a genuine case of ill-health and receive approval from the Board. While rumours have circulated about potential absences, no athlete has officially informed the AFN of their inability to attend the trials.
Indeed, several foreign-based athletes, including sprinters Alaba Akintola and Tima Godbless, were already in Benin City preparing for the event. Samuel Onikeku, the AFN Technical Director, echoed Mosindi’s remarks, ahead of registering athletes for the World Championships. “Some of the athletes feel that they have already qualified for the World Championships with A Standard. But it is the AFN that will register them for the World Championships. Anybody who fails to show up in Benin City is on his/her own,” he said.
The AFN has reported that over 12 foreign-based athletes, including sprint hurdles world champion Tobiloba Amusan and top 200m runner Udodi Onwuzurike, are expected to join the national trials in Benin City. Although Amusan’s flight from Sweden was cancelled, the AFN anticipates her arrival as soon as she can make it.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
